Hanging Memories on the Christmas Tree

I mentioned in a recent post that our family has not been home for Christmas since 2003.

It was wonderful to have our small family ( just 4 of us ) together skiing in Lake Tahoe, Mammoth or Santa Fe.

Last year we went to Kauai and flew home on Christmas night.

With no small children, family vacations make for great Christmas memories, but I didn't realize how much I love Christmas until I began decorating this year.

Even though we were going away, I always decorated a little, but for 10 years, there was no Christmas tree and the ornaments sat forgotten in the attic.

 As I gathered ornaments together for the tree, I realized that they were not just ornaments, but memories.

If I was going to start fresh with tree ornaments, I would go out and buy more of these glass balls I recently purchased at the Restoration Hardware outlet.

Or, more metal pieces like this wonderful star I found at a cute boutique on Main Street.

While decorating the tree yesterday, I was glad that KC was in the kitchen baking and Steve was putting up the lights because tears came to my eyes frequently.

My ornaments are old and out of fashion, but they bring to mind so many Christmases and people who are no longer in our lives.

For several years I was into little wooden ornaments - the clown and boat are handmade and purchased by my father at a neighborhood Christmas boutique.

We are a family of tennis players so my mother had one of her friends make me the tennis racket themed ornaments.

I made many cloth ornaments in the 80s - the wreath evoked sweet memories because it was made by a very special friend who was not known for being creative.

I made the stocking on the left in a pottery class 35 years ago and the stained glass stocking was a gift from a student (who is no longer living ) in my very first pre-school class.

I bought this ornament on a 3 generational family vacation to visit relatives in Norway.

My college roommate and her family came to visit for Christmas one year and brought these "cook" ornaments (our last name is Cook).

For years I collected rocking horses (one of the collections I gave away when we downsized) and my mother always found rocking horses for the tree.

I remember buying these cat ornaments when we had our cats Eddie and Sadie because they reflected each cat's personality.

After decorating the tree, I realized that as beautiful as the glass balls and metal star are, they hold no memories for me or my family.

They might be old and outdated, but I am loving looking at all the memories hanging on our Christmas tree.

I have some free time today so I might just head to my creative space (the garage) and create some more memories of Christmas 2013 to hang on the tree.

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Join me at these parties

Must Love Junk  - Creating Christmas 

Knick of Time - Vintage Inspiration Party

Our Home Away From Home - Tuesdays At Our Home

Elizabeth and Co. - Be Inspired

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday

Kathe With An E - You're Gonna Love It